Card Smart store closes after 8 years

5 years ago

After operating for eight years in Presque Isle, the Card Smart store is closing amid competition from online retailers, said owner Mike Blier. 

Blier and his wife Donna opened the store in 2010 at the Aroostook Centre Mall, selling cards and gifts.

“We had a few very good years, and then the mall started losing a lot of its tenants,” Blier said. “As the tenants got out of the mall, our customers did too.”

The business moved to Main Street in Presque Isle in 2016.

“Here we found a lot more exposure, but as the Amazon numbers increased, ours decreased,” Blier said. “Our biggest impact is Amazon, online shopping and Walmart.”

Blier said the store is having a going out of business sale on all of its inventory and will likely be closing the second week in January.